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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Attraction and Longevity of 2- and 3-Component Food Cone Lures for the Caribbean Fruit Fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract The Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspensa (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a quarantine pest of Citrus spp. and a production pest of guava and other specialty fruits in Florida. Effective monitoring lures and traps are needed for early pest detection and timely initiation of control measures. As part of a continued effort to identify attractive synthetic lures for the Caribbean fruit fly, we conducted field tests in Homestead, Florida to compare the efficacy and longevity of commercial 2- and 3-component cone lures (2C [ammonium acetate and putrescine], 3C [ammonium acetate, putrescine, and trimethylamine]), the current standards used by regulatory agencies, versus the traditional liquid protein bait consisting of hydrolyzed torula yeast and borax as a positive control. Additional lures were also field-aged and periodically brought into the laboratory to quantify residual chemical contents. Traps baited with the torula yeast-borax mixture captured the highest mean number of A. suspensa, and traps baited with the commercial 2C lures captured more flies than the 3C lures. Traps baited with torula yeast-borax also captured the highest number of nontarget Diptera. Captures with all three treatments were significantly biased toward females. Attractiveness of the 2C lure began to drop after 6–8 wk, and the 3C lure after 5–6 wk. Overall, these data suggest that the 2C cone lure is more attractive to A. suspensa than the 3C cone lure under field conditions in south Florida, and that the 2C lures are attractive for up to 8 wk.

Entomology↗
DOE OSTI2013

Integrated Test and Evaluation of 3He Replacement Technologies for Safeguards and Nonproliferation Applications – boron-based HLNC-B counter build

A full scale thermal neutron coincidence counter (High Level Neutron Counter – Boron: HLNB) was designed and built during FY12. Following successful functionality demonstration, initial performance evaluation using LANL available neutron and gamma-ray sources was performed during FY13. The results of this activity were shared with international community at the NNSA sponsored workshop on 3 He alternatives organized at LANL in June 2013. Field test of the HLNB is anticipated during FY14 pending funding approval. In addition to HLNB related activities, LANL supported and hosted experimental evaluation of Advanced Boron Uranium Neutron Collar (ABUNCL) designed by GE/RS and evaluated by PNNL. The evaluation involved use of LANL low enriched uranium (LEU) fresh fuel rods in a boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel arrangement. Details of the activities performed during FY13 are described in the following sections.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2025

Optimize the Autonomous Sensor Fish Device for Understanding Interactions of Aquatic Animals with Marine and Hydrokinetic and Hydro Systems (CRADA 476) Final Report

This project at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) enhances our understanding of how aquatic life interacts with marine renewable energy (MRE) and hydropower systems through the development and testing of advanced sensor technology. The Marine Sensor Fish (MSF) and its smaller variants, the Sensor Fish Mini (SF Mini) and Flexible Sensor Fish (FSF), measure critical environmental stressors, such as shear forces, pressure changes, and strike impacts, that are essential for assessing the risks posed by energy devices, including tidal turbines, hydropower installations, and other MRE infrastructure. Rigorous field testing has shown that these tools are effective in capturing detailed data on turbulence, pressure variations, strike impacts, and other stressors near these devices, providing valuable insights into the conditions faced by aquatic species. Economically, these tools offer renewable energy developers a practical solution for streamlining environmental assessments and ensuring regulatory compliance, ultimately reducing costs associated with evaluating and mitigating ecological impacts. This research also benefits the public by promoting the growth of renewable energy sources that protect aquatic ecosystems, advancing both sustainable energy production and environmental stewardship.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1982

Evaluation of present thermal barrier coatings for potential service in electric utility gas turbines

The resistance of present-day thermal barrier coatings to combustion gases found in electric utility turbines was assessed. The plasma sprayed coatings, both duplex and graded types, were primarily zirconia-based, although a calcium silicate was also evaluated. Both atmospheric burner rig tests and high pressure tests (135 psig) showed that several present-day thermal barrier coatings have a high potential for service in gas turbines burning the relatively clean GT No. 2 fuel. However, coating improvements are needed for use in turbines burning lower grade fuel such as residual oil. The duplex ZrO2.8Y2O3/NiCrA1Y coating was ranked highest and selected for near-term field testing, with Ca2SiO4/NiCrA1Y ranked second. Graded coatings show potential for corrosive turbine operating conditions and warrant further development. The coating degradation mechanisms for each coating system subjected to the various environmental conditions are also described.

Bratton, R. J.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Zeolite Membrane Reactor for Pre-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture (Final Scientific/Technical Report)

Water-gas shift (WGS) reaction followed by carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) separation is a critical step in the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) process for fossil-fuel-fired electrical power generation with CO 2 capture. To intensify the IGCC process hydrogen-permselective zeolite membrane reactor offers promise to replace the conventional energy-intensive fixed-bed reactors and solvent-based CO 2 capture units. The objectives of this project were to develop a bench-scale zeolite membrane reactor (total membrane area: 932 cm 2 for a 21-tube membrane bundle) for the water-gas-shift reaction of raw syngas from an oxygen-blown coal-gasifier for H 2 production with simultaneous CO 2 separation at the capability of about 2 kilograms H 2 per day (equivalent to 2 kW IGCC power plant) and to demonstrate significant progress toward achieving overall performance goal of 90% CO 2 capture rate with 95% CO 2 purity at the cost of electricity 30% less than the baseline carbon capture approaches. This report summarizes results obtained in this project on scaling up the zeolite membrane reactor by a factor of 200 in membrane area, tests of the bench-scale zeolite membrane reactor for the water-gas-shift reaction at high temperature and high-pressure, and techno-economic analysis of the integration of the zeolite membrane reactor in IGCC power plant for the electrical generation with CO 2 capture. With effective pore modification by catalytic cracking deposition of MDES (methyldiethoxysilane), fabrication of MFI-type zeolite membranes was successfully scaled-up from a lab-scale disk type to bench-scale multiple-tube bundles on low-cost alumina supports. A Co-Mo based sour shift catalyst was evaluated and used in the zeolite membrane reactors for water-gas-shift reaction. The reaction kinetic and gas-permeation equations were developed and employed in mathematic models to guide/predict experiments/performance of zeolite membrane reactors for water-gas shift reaction. Multiple-tube zeolite membrane bundles and reactors were designed, fabricated and tested for gas separation and water-gas-shift reactions with real raw syngas from a coal-fired gasifier operated at high temperature and pressure. The zeolite membrane reactors demonstrated good long-term thermal and chemical stability and constant H 2 permeance (>300 GPU) together with a Knudsen selectivity (~4.7) for H 2 over CO 2 in the field test (cumulative time >28 hours) with high-sulfur coal-derived syngas. The zeolite-membrane-reactor integrated IGCC process was designed using the performance experimentally measured by the University of Cincinnati team with a single-tube zeolite membrane reactor that offers a CO conversion >98% with more than 90% of CO 2 and H 2 captured. With the above integrative approaches, a techno-economic analysis for a cost-benefit comparison was performed to uncover features that determine the power output, capital expenditure, operating expenditure, cost of electricity and cost of CO 2 capture in a 550-MW zeolite-membrane-reactor integrated IGCC process. The integration of the zeolite membrane reactor in IGCC could provide a significant reduction of 80% and 27% in the power consumption for Selexol™ Acid Gas Removal and CO 2 compression, respectively, which lowers the total auxiliary power consumption by 12.5%. However, the low pressure required at permeate stream for maintaining the driving force of hydrogen permeation through the zeolite membrane costs a huge power in permeate compressor, compensating the power consumption reduction achieved with the membrane reactor. Thus, for coal-fired IGCC for electricity generation with 90% CO 2 captured, the integration of the membrane reactor could provide a CO conversion ~99% and a significant drop in cost-of-electricity using zeolite membrane with H 2 permeance >600 GPU and the H 2 /CO 2 selectivity over 70.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
NASA NTRS1985

Electrets and plant fluorometers used in field studies to measure hydrogen chloride produced during Space Shuttle launches

The results of the field tests of two monitoring device techniques, electrets and plant fluorometers are analyzed in order to determine the environmental effects of launch by-products and the extent of these effects. The STS launches are used because the Shuttle emits 2 1/2 times more HCl than any previous systems, it produces a voluminous ground cloud and, most important, it produces near field HCl deposition and revolatilization, far-field acid washout/rainout, and gaseous HCl diffusion. Field evaluations of electrets at STS-5, STS-6, and STS-8 have shown that qualitative assessments can be made for areas lightly or moderately impacted by gaseous and aerosol HCl. Field evaluation of the plant productivity fluorometer at STS-8 has shown that this system is also useful for qualitative assessment in areas lightly, moderately, or heavily affected by gaseous and aerosol HCl. Quantitative prediction of HCl may be possible in lightly and moderately affected areas, given deposition rates correlation.

Milligan, J. E.↗
NASA NTRS2020

Is a Linear or a Walkabout Protocol More Efficient When Using a Rover to Choose Biologically Relevant Samples in a Small Region of Interest?

We conducted a field test at a potential Mars analog site to provide insight into planning for future robotic missions such as Mars 2020, where science operations must facilitate efficient choice of biologically relevant sampling locations. We compared two data acquisition and decision-making protocols currently used by Mars Science Laboratory: (1) a linear approach, where sites are examined as they are encountered and (2) a walkabout approach, in which the field site is first examined with remote rover instruments to gain an understanding of regional context followed by deployment of time- and power-intensive contact and sampling instruments on a smaller subset of locations. The walkabout method was advantageous in terms of both the time required to execute and a greater confidence in results and interpretations, leading to enhanced ability to tailor follow-on observations to better address key science and sampling goals. This advantage is directly linked to the walkabout method's ability to provide broad geological context earlier in the science analysis process. For Mars 2020, and specifically for small regions to be explored (e.g., <1 sq. km), we recommend that the walkabout approach be considered where possible, to provide early context and time for the science team to develop a coherent suite of hypotheses and robust ways to test them.

R. Aileen Yingst↗
NASA NTRS2000

Assessment of Countermeasure Efficacy for Long-Term Space Missions

One of the main functions of the upcoming International Space Station (ISS) will be to provide a venue for testing proposed countermeasures for their ability to protect humans from the debilitating effects of longterm space flight. However, several limiting factors preclude an evaluation process similar to that used in clinical trials which traditionally are implemented with large sample sizes of subjects, including control groups, and with blind or double-blind application of treatments according to factorial or other balanced experimental designs. In particular, only very limited numbers of human subjects will be available for actual field testing in the ISS With no more than 125 subjects planned to fly on all ISS missions over 10 years, it is not possible to test extensive combinations of some 15-20 proposed countermeasures. Furthermore because of safety concerns and operational considerations, it is unlikely that anything other than the current best guess at the most effective countermeasure package will ever be used on ISS. In particular, control or placebos will not be allowed. In view of these limitations, historical data and groundbased or animal studies will have to be used to compensate for small sample sizes and lack of controls in the field. As a result, statistical analysis methodology will have to be developed which allows for the integration of these disparate data types into a meaningful evaluation process. The process must be sequential, providing objective rules for deciding through time whether to reject or modify an ineffective countermeasure, or whether to certify one as effective. Additional output should include performance characteristics for all relevant physiological systems, including uncertainty analyses and estimates of accept/reject decision error rates.

Feiveson, Alan H.↗
DOE OSTI2018

The EGS Collab Hydroshear Experiment at the Sanford Underground Research Facility – Siting Criteria and Evaluation of Candidate Sites

The objective of the EGS Collab project is to establish a suite of intermediate-scale (~10-20 m) field test beds coupled with stimulation and interwell flow tests to provide a basis to better understand fracture stimulation methods, resulting fracture geometries, and processes that control heat transfer between rock and stimulated fractures. Experiment 1 of the project is being conducted at a depth of ~1.5 km in the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) on the 4850 Level (ft. below the ground surface). The stimulation method planned for Experiment 2 of this project is hydroshearing of an existing natural fracture. In siting this experiment, there are several key geologic criteria that need to be met. These include: 1) the fracture should be least 10 m in length so that it could be intersected by two boreholes that are spaced that far apart; 2) it should be optimally oriented relevant to the stress field so that it is critically stressed; 3) the site should have appropriate stress conditions (not too shallow a depth); 4) the fracture should have sufficient permeability to allow for prestimulation flow testing, but not too high a permeability that would preclude permeability enhancement via shear stimulation; 5) the fracture should not intersect other features (permeable fractures, boreholes, adjacent drifts) that could serve as major leak-off zones; 6) the site should not be complicated by geology (a single lithology would be preferred). In addition, there are logistical criteria that will also influence site selection, including: 1) site availability/access, 2) logistical support, e.g., power, internet, water, operating rail system; 3) drift size and orientation compatible with drilling and site operations; 4) appropriate ground support. There are only two deep levels at SURF that can be accessed by the Yates Shaft: the 4100 and the 4850, so we limited our search to these two levels. Currently, three candidate sites are being evaluated: the existing Experiment 1 site and its surroundings on the West Drift on the 4850 level, and two locations on the 4100 level. This paper will evaluate advantages, disadvantages, and risks associated with these three options at SURF.

EGS Collab, Sanford Underground Research Facility↗
DOE OSTI2014

Multiparameter fiber optic sensing system for monitoring enhanced geothermal systems

The goal of this project was to design, fabricate and test an optical fiber cable which supports multiple sensing modalities for measurements in the harsh environment of enhanced geothermal systems. To accomplish this task, optical fiber was tested at both high temperatures and strains for mechanical integrity, and in the presence of hydrogen for resistance to darkening. Both single mode (SM) and multimode (MM) commercially available optical fiber were identified and selected for the cable based on the results of these tests. The cable was designed and fabricated using a tube-within-tube construction containing two MM fibers and one SM fiber, and without supporting gel that is not suitable for high temperature environments. Commercial fiber optic sensing instruments using Raman DTS (distributed temperature sensing), Brillouin DTSS (distributed temperature and strain sensing), and Raleigh COTDR (coherent optical time domain reflectometry) were selected for field testing.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Deep Controlled Source Electro-Magnetic Sensing: A Cost Effective, Long-Term Tool for Sequestration Monitoring

The proposed system was designed to operate as a permanent, autonomous monitoring and data collection system that can provide much higher temporal data density than can be achieved economically with 3-Dimensional (3D) seismic surveys. It can operate over broad areas for long periods of time providing full 3D data sets on a monthly basis at a very low cost. By borrowing techniques commonly used in marine CSEM, structural information from background seismic surveys can be incorporated into the CSEM modeling to provide high resolution models of CO 2 progression within reservoirs. The system uses borehole-based vertical-electric-dipole sources placed at reservoir depths in the formation. The electric and magnetic fields induced by this source are received on the surface using an array of stations. The project was conducted in three phases. Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of the system to collect static/reference data at the Ketzin CO 2 storage pilot site in Germany. In Phase I, numerical modeling was used to determine the optimal configurations and requirements for sensor sensitivity and data accuracy. Based on the model results, existing hardware and software were modified. The CSEM system was then field tested at the Ketzin site. The data were imaged and the results were compared with independent studies of the reservoir and overburden geo-electrical characteristics. Phase II demonstrated the ability to provide sensitive, cost-effective measurement of changes in reservoir properties and changes in the overlying formations using a second round of measurements at the Ketzin site. A prototype autonomous recording system was developed and tested as a subset of the measurement points. Phase III of the project quantified the advantages (and disadvantages) of the fully autonomous data collection subsystems by comparing them with repeated measurements made with mobile stations. The Phase III also provided an additional time point in measuring post-closure changes in and above the Ketzin CO 2 injection site. Validation of the CSEM field survey results were completed using a method such as other alternative and available field site data.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Assessing and Testing Hydrokinetic Turbine Performance and Effects on Open Channel Hydrodynamics: An Irrigation Canal Case Study.

Hydrokinetic energy from flowing water in open channels has the potential to support local electricity needs with lower regulatory or capital investment than impounding water with more conventional means. MOU agencies involved in federal hydropower development have identified the need to better understand the opportunities for hydrokinetic (HK) energy development within existing canal systems that may already have integrated hydropower plants. This document provides an overview of the main considerations, tools, and assessment methods, for implementing field tests in an open-channel water system to characterize current energy converter (CEC) device performance and hydrodynamic effects. It describes open channel processes relevant to their HK site and perform pertinent analyses to guide siting and CEC layout design, with the goal of streamlining the evaluation process and reducing the risk of interfering with existing uses of the site. This document outlines key site parameters of interest and effective tools and methods for measurement and analysis with examples drawn from the Roza Main Canal, in Yakima, WA to illustrate a site application.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS1991

Digital image profilers for detecting faint sources which have bright companions, phase 2

A breadboard image profiling system developed for the first phase of this project demonstrated the potential for detecting extremely faint optical sources in the presence of light companions. Experimental data derived from laboratory testing of the device supports the theory that image profilers of this type may approach the theoretical limit imposed by photon statistics. The objective of Phase 2 of this program is the development of a ground-based multichannel image profiling system capable of detecting faint stellar objects slightly displaced from brighter stars. We have finalized the multichannel image profiling system and attempted three field tests.

Morris, Elena↗
NASA NTRS2014

Wireless Monitoring of the Height of Condensed Water in Steam Pipes

A wireless health monitoring system has been developed for determining the height of water condensation in the steam pipes and the data acquisition is done remotely using a wireless network system. The developed system is designed to operate in the harsh environment encountered at manholes and the pipe high temperature of over 200 °C. The test method is an ultrasonic pulse-echo and the hardware includes a pulser, receiver and wireless modem for communication. Data acquisition and signal processing software were developed to determine the water height using adaptive signal processing and data communication that can be controlled while the hardware is installed in a manhole. A statistical decision-making tool is being developed based on the field test data to determine the height of in the condensed water under high noise conditions and other environmental factors.

High Temperatures↗
NASA NTRS2019

Ozonesonde Quality Assurance: JOSIE-SHADOZ (2017) and SHALLOTS (2018)

Ozonesonde data constitute a mainstay of satellite calibration and are used for climatologies and analysis of trends, especially in the lower stratosphere where satellites are most uncertain. The electrochemical-concentration cell (ECC) ozonesonde has been deployed at ~100 stations worldwide since the 1960s, with changes over time in manufacture and procedures, including details of the cell chemical solution and data processing. As a consequence, there are biases among different stations and discontinuities in profile timeseries from individual site records. Since 1996 the Jülich [Germany] Ozone Sonde Intercomparison Experiment (JOSIE) has periodically tested ozonesondes in a simulation chamber designated the World Calibration Centre for Ozonesondes by WMO. In October- November 2017 a JOSIE campaign evaluated the sondes and procedures used in SHADOZ (Southern Hemisphere Additional Ozonesondes), a 14-station tropical and subtropical network. A distinctive feature of the 2017 JOSIE was that the tests were conducted by operators from eight SHADOZ stations; Nairobi, Natal, Irene, Costa Rica, Paramaribo, Reunion, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur. Experimental protocols and preliminary results for the SHADOZ sonde configurations, which represent most of those in use today, are described. SHADOZ stations that follow WMO-recommended protocols record total ozone within 3% of the JOSIE reference instrument. Instrument biases noted in prior JOSIE and field tests like BESOS (2004) were noted in JOSIE-2017, with maximum effect in the stratosphere. In June 2018 we organized a series of dual launches during the OWLETS II campaign in the Maryland and Chesapeake Bay area (SHALLOTS = SHADOZ-OWLETS ParaLLel Ozonesonde Test Study). Instrument and solution types were varied as in JOSIE-2017 and three radiosonde-ozonesonde variants were tested. An example of a parallel sampling in SHALLOTS, from a Greenbelt EnSCI-iMet sonde combination flown with the Wallops SPCLMS package, is illustrated in the Figure. The result was a range of biases but in general the instrument combination (EnSCI-iMet) deployed at 11 SHADOZ stations recorded ~5-10% less ozone in the stratosphere than the SPC ECC sonde flown with a Vaisala or LMS system. These 2017 and 2018 results and prior JOSIEs demonstrate that regular testing is essential to maintain best practices in ozonesonde operations and to ensure high-quality data for the ozone assessment communities.

Quality assurance↗
DOE OSTI2020

Evaluation of Engineered Barrier Systems (FY19 Report)

This report describes research and development (R&D) activities conducted during fiscal year 2019 (FY19) specifically related to the Engineered Barrier System (EBS) R&D Work Package in the Spent Fuel and Waste Science and Technology (SFWST) Campaign supported by the United States (U.S.) Department of Eneregy (DOE). The R&D activities focus on understanding EBS component evolution and interactions within the EBS, as well as interactions between the host media and the EBS. A primary goal is to advance the development of process models that can be implemented directly within the Genreric Disposal System Analysis (GDSA) platform or that can contribute to the safety case in some manner such as building confidence, providing further insight into the processes being modeled, establishing better constraints on barrier performance, etc.The FY19 EBS activities involved not only modeling and analysis work, but experimental work as well. The report documents the FY19 progress made in seven different research areas as follows: (1) thermal analysis for the disposal of dual purpose canisters (DPCs) in sedimentary host rock using the semianalytical method, (2) tetravalent uranium solubility and speciation, (3) modeling of high temperature, thermal-hydrologic-mechanical-chemical (THMC) coupled processes, (4) integration of coupled thermalhydrologic- chemical (THC) model with GDSA using a Reduced-Order Model, (5) studying chemical controls on montmorillonite structure and swelling pressure, (6) transmission x-ray microscope for in-situ nanotomography of bentonite and shale, and (7) in-situ electrochemical testing of uranium dioxide under anoxic conditions. The R&D team consisted of subject matter experts from Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), the University of California Berkeley, and Mississippi State University. In addition, the EBS R&D work leverages international collaborations to ensure that the DOE program is active and abreast of the latest advances in nuclear waste disposal. For example, the FY19 work on modeling coupled THMC processes at high temperatures relied on the bentonite properties from the Full-scale Engineered Barrier EXperiment (FEBEX) Field Test conducted at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland. Overall, significant progress has been made in FY19 towards developing the modeling tools and experimental capabilities needed to investigate the performance of EBS materials and the associated interactions in the drift and the surrounding near-field environment under a variety of conditions including high temperature regimes.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design, Development and Testing Plan for Energy Efficiency Algorithms Related to Building-Integrated Cooling, Heating, and Power Systems

Building-integrated cooling, heating and power (CHP) systems are more efficient than conventional systems at providing local power and thermal energy, and favorable fuel prices are bound to spur their increased adoption. It is estimated that the total CHP technical potential in the commercial building sector is approximately 76 GW, but only a small fraction of it is actually deployed. Advanced control and monitoring systems that realize the full potential of these CHP systems can transform this capacity into an asset for both the owner and the grid and also accelerate the adoption of these systems in the building sector. However, to realize the full benefit of the CHP systems, we must ensure persistence of energy efficient operations. It has been demonstrated by several studies that as much as 30% of building energy use is wasted. Much of the waste results from the inability to anticipate load variations (design day vs. non-design day operations; diurnal variation of loads), identify improper operation, and efficiently operate, control and maintain building systems. Moreover, many buildings, even those with adequate control infrastructure, lack knowledgeable staff to operate and maintain energy systems. Operators of buildings with CHP systems will constantly need to make tradeoffs (economic dispatch) between onsite power generation and purchasing power, between onsite heat production from distributed generation versus heating/cooling from conventional systems, and different passive and active load management measures. Much of the inefficiency in the current building operations can be eliminated by use of automated performance monitoring (PM), real-time commissioning verification (CxV) and automated fault detection and diagnostic (AFDD) tools. Automation can help system operators make intelligent decisions. Remote and continuous monitoring of system conditions and performance will enable better management and integration of CHP with existing building systems. Continuous PM, real-time CxV and AFDD could alleviate burdens for operations staff, enhance operations and maintenance (O&M), and improve reliability of building and CHP systems. To address the O&M challenges and to provide a means to maximize the rate-of-return of building-integrated CHP systems, the Building Technologies Office (BTO) within the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) initiated a project to design, develop, and field test a VOLTTRON™-based supervisory controller and associated open-source algorithms. These algorithms will ensure real-time optimal operation of a building-integrated CHP system, support electric grid reliability, and lead to achieving the goal of a clean, efficient, reliable and affordable next-generation integrated energy systems. This report lists the components for which PM, real-time CxV and AFDD algorithms will be developed, how the algorithms will be tested, and metrics that will be used to validate the algorithms and easy of deployment. Deployment of these algorithms in the field will result in savings reduction in energy consumption of between 10% and 20%.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2012

HYDROGEL TRACER BEADS: THE DEVELOPMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TESTING OF AN INNOVATIVE TRACER FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING LNAPL TRANSPORT IN KARST AQUIFERS

The goal of this specific research task is to develop proxy tracers that mimic contaminant movement to better understand and predict contaminant fate and transport in karst aquifers. Hydrogel tracer beads are transported as a separate phase than water and can used as a proxy tracer to mimic the transport of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL). They can be constructed with different densities, sizes & chemical attributes. This poster describes the creation and optimization of the beads and the field testing of buoyant beads, including sampling, tracer analysis, and quantitative analysis. The buoyant beads are transported ahead of the dissolved solutes, suggesting that light NAPL (LNAPL) transport in karst may occur faster than predicted from traditional tracing techniques. The hydrogel beads were successful in illustrating this enhanced transport.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗